Cardiotoxicity in rabbits after long-term nandrolone decanoate administration Fotini Vasilaki a , Christina Tsitsimpikou b , Konstantinos Tsarouhas c , Ioannis Germanakis d , Marias Tzardi e , Matthaios Kavvalakis a , Eren Ozcagli f , Dimitrios Kouretas g , Aristidis M. Tsatsakis a, * a Center of Toxicology Science & Research, Medical School, University of Crete, Heraklion, Crete, Greece b Department of Dangerous Substances, Mixtures and Articles, Directorate of Energy, Industrial & Chemical Products, General Chemical State Laboratory of Greece, Athens, Greece c Department of Cardiology, General Hospital of Karditsa, Terma-Tavropou, Karditsa, Greece d Paediatric Cardiology Unit, Department of Paediatrics, University Hospital Heraklion, Crete, Greece e Department of Pathology, Medical School, University of Crete, Heraklion, Crete, Greece f Department of Pharmaceutical Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Istanbul University, Beyazit, Istanbul, Turkey g Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, University of Thessaly, Larissa, Greece H I G H L I G H T S G R A P H I C A L A B S T R A C T  Cardiovascular effects of nandrolone decanoate on young rabbits.  Focal fibrosis and inflammatory infil- trations of cardiac tissue in high dose groups.  Preserved systolic performance, dis- torted MPI values, diastolic im- pairment.  TBARS increased in high dose groups, troponin increased in wash-out peri- od.  Heart tissue relative telomerase ac- tivity increased dose-dependently. A R T I C L E I N F O Article history: Received 14 August 2015 Received in revised form 26 October 2015 Accepted 28 October 2015 Available online 2 November 2015 Keywords: Anabolic steroids Nandrolone decanoate Echocardiography Oxidative stress A B S T R A C T Abuse of anabolic androgenic steroids is linked to a variety of cardiovascular complications. The aim of our study was to investigate the possible cardiovascular effects of nandrolone decanoate on young rabbits using echocardiography, histology and monitoring of telomerase activity, oxidative stress and biochemical markers. Fourteen rabbits were divided into three administration groups and the control group. Doses of 4 mg/kg and 10 mg/kg of nandrolone decanoate, given intramuscularly and subcutaneously, two days per week for six months were applied. A 4-months wash-out period followed. Focal fibrosis and inflammatory infiltrations of cardiac tissue were observed in the high dose groups. Thiobarbituric acid-reactive species (TBARS) levels were significantly increased in the high dose groups, while catalase activity decreased. Myocardial Performance Index (MPI) is the main echocardiographic index primarily affected by nandrolone administration in rabbits. Despite the preserved systolic performance, histological lesions observed associated with distorted MPI values, point Abbreviations: AAS, anabolic androgenic steroids; TBARS, thiobarbituric acid reactive species; TAC, total antioxidant capacity; LDH, lactate dehydrogenase; CpK, creatinine kinase; BNP, B-type natriuretic peptide; PW, pulsed wave Doppler; TDI, tissue Doppler imaging; MPI, myocardial performance index; LV, left ventricular. * Corresponding author at: Center of Toxicology Science & Research, University of Crete, Voutes 71003 Heraklion, Greece. Fax: +30 2810542098. E-mail address: toxlab@med.uoc.gr (A.M. Tsatsakis). http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.toxlet.2015.10.026 0378-4274/ ã 2015 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved. Toxicology Letters 241 (2016) 143–151 Contents lists available at ScienceDirect Toxicology Letters journa l homepage: www.e lsevier.com/locate/toxlet